The annual cross-town rivalry game between the 12-under division champions of Dos Pueblos Little League and Goleta Valley South Little League was back Friday at Girsh Park.
The DPLL regular season champion-Padres squared off against the GVSLL champion-Giants for what has been a local little league tradition since 1985. The Giants won the game, 5-4.
The Giants got off to an early 2-0 lead, with Luke Brennan scoring the first run on a double by Mael Michaud and Jackson Brennan following with a RBI single.
The Padres answered in the third inning with three runs.
The Giants regained the lead in the fourth. Michaud tripled to score Luke Brennan for the tying run and Jackson Brennan executed a squeeze bunt to make it 4-3.
Solid defense by middle infielders Ryland Montgomery and Teo Patterson held the Padres’ offensive advances.
The Giants went ahead 5-3 in the fifth inning, as Jaden Jones hit a line-drive triple to left field and scored on a Dexter Conner ground out to first.
The Padres tried to battle back as Conner Lee hit an inside-the-park home run. Dos Pueblos Giants starting pitcher Teo Patterson retired the next batters to end the inning
The Giants contained the Padres in the sixth inning behind reliever Ryland Montgomery.
Asked what he was most proud of about his team and their success as a team this season, GVSLL Giants manager Casey Brennan responded: “This year the coaches and I really challenged our players to not only work hard during practices and come prepared to play 100% each game but, more importantly, to play with the highest level of sportsmanship, being respectful and encouraging to fellow teammates, competing teams, umpires, etcetera.
“We challenged our boys to find ways to work together as a team to build each other up, move on from mistakes and get the next play, competing well as gentlemen on the baseball field. The boys should feel good about what they accomplished this season.
“As a manager and coaching staff, we could not be more pleased with how this team worked together and accomplished something special that they will always remember.”
The GVSLL Giants roster includes Jackson Brennan, Luke Brennan, Brandon Ceballos, Dexter Conner, EJ Niksto, Jaden Jones, Pierter Kuipers, Mael Michaud, Ryland Montgomery, Tyler Munoz, and Teo Patterson. Casey Brennan is the manager, with Eli Gregerman, PJ Kuipers, Heath Montgomery and Jake Niksto serving as coaches.
The DPLL Padres include William Checketts, Isaiah Estrella, Alejandro Hoyos, Conner Lee, Benjamin Macias, Emiliano Mendez, Adrian Perez, Owen Rosenthal, Colin Stempel, Jacob Stock, Andrew Wang and Finn Wansor. Chad Wang is the manager and Matt Stock the coach.
“DPLL and GVSLL have provided boys and girls between the ages of 4 and 14 the opportunity to play baseball with the shared mission of using the game of baseball to teach life lessons that build stronger individuals and communities,” said Ken Loman, vice president of GVSLL. “As a not-for-profit organizations, both leagues rely on donations and sponsorships to help fund and promote little league throughout the year in our community.”